Karachi protest over loadshedding ends after 16 hours, highway reopens

• SSP Malir held successful talks with protestors.
• Lanjar contacted DC, KE for power restoration.
• KE blames outages on theft, non-payment.

KARACHI: Citizens protesting prolonged power outages ended their 16-hour sit-in near Quaidabad after successful negotiations with SSP Malir, reopening the National Highway for traffic on Saturday.

The protest began late Friday night as residents blocked the highway in response to unannounced and extended electricity loadshedding, which had paralysed daily life during peak summer — as tempratures cross 39°C.

The demonstration caused massive traffic disruption, including gridlock stretching from Quaidabad to Malir Halt, leaving commuters and vehicles — including those transporting sacrificial animals — stranded for hours.

In response, Sindh Interior Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar took immediate notice and directed law enforcement and administrative officials to manage the situation.

He contacted SSP Malir and DC Malir, instructing them to coordinate with K-Electric and ensure immediate power restoration in the affected areas.

Lanjar also ordered that protestors be provided with cold water and beverages due to the extreme heat and that medical access to hospitals be ensured for anyone affected by the weather.

SSP Malir was directed to personally visit the site, engage the demonstrators, and help conclude the protest peacefully.

After negotiations led by SSP Malir, the protestors dispersed and the National Highway was reopened after 16 hours.

K-Electric, in a statement, claimed that 70% of its network is exempt from loadshedding, with outages limited to high-loss areas due to theft or non-payment. It claimed that areas with 100% bill recovery continue receiving uninterrupted power.

However, widespread loadshedding has been reported in Malir, Landhi, Korangi, Orangi Town, New Karachi, Model Colony, Surjani, Lyari, and parts of old city areas such as Lines Area and Kharadar. Commercial hubs such as Jama Cloth Market and Liaquatabad have also experienced prolonged outages.

The utility confirmed that 496 feeders are currently undergoing up to 10 hours of daily loadshedding, with another 155 experiencing slightly shorter interruptions.